Washing-machine



W. B. FINK.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED luLY 29,1920

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. FINK, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR O13* ONE-,HALF TO GEORGEF.

HULLINGS, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y. i

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed July 29, 1920. Serial No. 399,915.

To all whom #may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. Fink, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in VVashing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to washing machines consisting of a receptacle inwhich the clothes are placed and subjected to the action of a cleansingfluid such as soaped water or the like.

The present invention has for its object to vprovide a washing machinein which the cleansing fluid is forced through the clothes or otherarticles to be washed, the latter remaining comparatively stationary inthe tub or receptacle containing the cleansing fluid.

l/Vashing machines of the agitator type in which the clothes aresubject-ed to a harsh treatment by being tumbled, thrown about orpounded, often cause wear, tangling and tearing of the clothes,especially7 fine fabrics, and this objectionable feature is entirelyeliminated by reversing the method and forcing the water through theclothes instead of throwing the clothes through the water. The presentmachine is especially adapted for woolen garments and fine fabrics, alldanger of shrinkage of the former and damage of the latter beingeliminated.

The invention also has for its object to provide a very simple andefficient machine of the kind stated, in which the flow of the cleansingfluid through the clothes is assured.

With the objects stated in view, the invention consists in a novelcombination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described andclaimed, and in order that the same may be better understood, referenceis had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification.

In the drawings,

IFigure 1 is an elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection thereof, and Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig.1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes an elongatedreceptacle which is water-tight s0 that it may hold a supply of washingfluid. The top of the receptacle is provided with an airtight closure11, which latter, when it is swung open, permits access to the interiorof the receptacle. Midway between its ends, the receptacle is made fastto a transversely extending rock shaft 12 yournaled in a suitablebearing stand 13, and having a rocker arm 14 connected by a pitman 15 toa crank disk 16 driven from any suitable power source. When the crankdisk 1s 1n motion, the receptacle is rocked longitudmally to throw itsliquid contents from one end to the other.` The means for rocking thereceptacle are immaterial, andk various means other than the onesillustrated may Y be provided. The receptacle can also be operatedmanually.

In the receptacle 10 is mounted a series of clothes holders 17, a numberof such being provided so as to occupy the entire space of thereceptacle between the The width of the holders is such that they occupythe space between the' side walls of the receptacle, and their height issuch that they occupy the space between the receptacle bottom and thelid or closure 11. It will therefore be seen that the holders areimmovably positioned in the receptacle, and they are not thrown aroundwhen the latter is in motion. The walls of the holders are ends thereof.l

made of screen fabric or any other reticuvthe fabrics thoroughly andrapidly loosens and removes all dirt, and this cleansing action iseffected without injury to the clothes as they are not tumbled about inthe holders but are practically immovable therein. Any slight shiftingabout of the clothes in the holders does no damage.

If some or all of the holders 17 are not completely filled with clothes,it is important that the cleansing lluid be prevented from flowing overthe top of the mass of clothes in the partly filled holders, asotherwise, the water would not be forced through the same from thesides, but would simply flow from one end of the receptacle 10 to theother across the top of the clothes. To prevent this, I mount baleplates 18 between the partly filled holders as shown in Fig'. 2 of thedrawings. These plates can be hung from the top edges of the holders toextend down as far as the top o the mass of clothes, it `beingunderstood that baffles of dierent heights will be provided, and a baiecorresponding in height to the distancev between the top of a holderIand the top of the mass of clothes therein, being selected and mountedin place. Y

Each end wall of the receptacle 10 has an outstanding air chamber 19which opens into the receptacle and has its inlet end screened, as shownat 20. When the cleansing fluid is thrown against the receptacle endwalls, the air in the chambers 19 is replaced and forced back throughthe clothes, thereby creating an agitation in the cleansing Huid whichassists in causing a thorough penetration of `the clothes, and alsoproducing suds if the cleansing Huid is soaped water.

The machine can be built in various sizes for commercial laundries aswell as `for domestic use. In commercial laundries, the work of markingand sorting the individual wash isdispensed with, as each wash can i beVplaced in a separate holder.

For domestic use, a manually operated machine will usually be provided.

A water inlet to the receptacle is shown at 21', the same being suitablyconnected up to a hot and cold water supply. This connection has notbeen illustrated as Vany suitable itting may be provided.

It will be understood that the machine may also be used fordry-cleaning, the

cleansing fluid then employed being gasolene.

I claim:

A washing machine comprising a Huid-V tight receptacle pivotallysupported inter'- mediate its ends for a rocking movementlongitudinally, means for rocking the receptacle, a plurality or clothesholders seating in the receptacle and occupying the space between theends, the sides, and the top and bottom thereof, the walls of saidholders being reticulated, and balle platesv between the holders forclosing unoccupied portions thereof.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

WILLIAM B. FINK.

